Every year, millions of animals are killed in taxpayer-funded shelters. However, there has been a movement in communities to become "No-Kill" which means an animal shelter saves at least 90% of the animals that come through their doors. The no-kill movement is not only the humane way for an animal shelter to operate, it is also more cost-effective for taxpayers than paying for the trapping, sheltering, feeding, general maintenance, and eventual euthanasia of these animals. The no-kill movement has proven success in all demographically diverse communities: rural, urban, poor, wealthy, well-funded and under-funded shelters. The no-kill movement has been in place for several decades but has only really gained traction since the mid-1990's. The communities that have aggressively implemented the no-kill method have seen tremendous success and they see active community involvement. The no-kill method brings communities together as well as saving lives of adoptable animals.

Statistics released by Halifax Humane Society (HHS), located in Daytona Beach, FL, for 2014 indicate that their save rate (the number of animals that leave the shelter either through adoptions, strays returned to their owners and animals that are released to various animal rescue groups) is only 55.54%. In 2012, their save rate was 41.38%. There are communities that have save rates of over 90% within their first year of adopting the no-kill method. Some communities that have been successful in economically-challenging areas and times are Reno, NV, Charlottesville, VA and Philadelphia, PA. All of these communities once had high kill rates but once the no-kill method was embraced, adopted and implemented, they were able to achieve a no-kill rate of 90% or higher.

Halifax Humane Society has a very diverse community in which it serves. HHS serves rural, urban, poor and wealthy areas. All of these areas can be, and should be, served using the no-kill methodology. This petition is to let the leadership and board directors of HHS know that their high-kill method is antiquated and inhumane. By signing this pledge, you are supporting the no-kill method and are urging HHS to become no-kill not tomorrow or next year, but to become no-kill NOW.